Return to Robertsbridge 21-22/9/13

This event seems to have been missed on this forum:

Robertsbridge Station is set to echo to the distinctive sights, sounds and smells of steam on Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd September as the re-opening of the Rother Valley Railway (RVR) between Robertsbridge and Bodiam takes a major step forward.

The trains will be the first public steam-hauled passenger services to serve the station since 1961 and one of the locomotives that worked the very last train will again be in action over half-a-century later! 141 Year-old locomotive No.32670 along with three Victorian carriages will be working special shuttle services from a brand new RVR platform along around half-a-mile of newly re-laid line from Robertsbridge Station to Northbridge Street. Steam shuttles will operate at Robertsbridge every 20 minutes from 10.30am to 4.00pm. Souvenir Edmonson tickets will be issued to commemorate the event. The K&ESR is providing passengers with a chance to ride on more of the line than has been possible since 1961, as in addition to the shuttles at Robertsbridge for this special weekend, it will be operating trains over the 10½ miles between Tenterden and Bodiam.

On each day, one departure, the 11.15 from Tenterden, the line's Class 108 diesel observation train, will run via the freight-only loop at Bodiam Station and along the rarely used RVR metals to Junction Road. Additionally, on its return to Tenterden it will work over the 200 yards of track north of Tenterden Town Station not usually used by passenger trains.

Heritage buses will provide a free link between the K&ESR and Robertsbridge. K&ESR trains will connect with buses at Northiam Station. In addition to the special trip mentioned above, there are steam trains from Tenterden Town Station at 10.45, 1.15 and 3.40 while diesel-hauled trips will depart at 12.00 and 2.30 on both days.

Those wishing to arrive by public transport are advised to use South Eastern Trains services from London Charing Cross, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and Hastings to Robertsbridge. To celebrate this event, on Saturday 21st September all trains on this line will stop at Robertsbridge. There is ample free car parking at Tenterden Town and Northiam stations for visitors arriving by road and there is also a large pay and display car park at Robertsbridge station.

 

Very historic event, indeed. There are a number of photos on the K&ESR Flickr group at http://www.flickr.com/groups/kesr/pool/
It was good to see many local residents as well as railway enthusiasts. Their support will be needed if the RVR's plans are to realised sooner rather than later.